This edition: Suggested Meanings: Symbolism and Allegory in Short Fiction

Episode Details

This episode explored the use of symbolism and allegory in short fiction and how the idea of myth related to these literary devices. The opening segment introduced these devices by examining how water has been used in literature as a symbol that can convey many different meanings. The use of water as symbol was explored further in a dramatization of D.H. Lawrence's "The Horse Dealer's Daughter." The episode also featured an interview with writer N. Scott Momaday, who explained how his use of symbolism in his story, "The Bear and the Colt," reflected the cultural symbols of Native American culture.